As Coronavirus Deepens Inequality, Inequality Worsens Its Spread
The pandemic is widening social and economic divisions that also make the virus deadlier, a self-reinforcing cycle that experts warn could have consequences for years to come.
Blog
An unexpected side effect of the coronavirus? A new urgency about helping homeless people
As public health officials scramble to manage the spread of the novel coronavirus, strategies are starting to be implemented across California and the rest of the country to protect the homeless population. More
Fracture Prevention in Older Adults
A collaboration between AFP and the Lown Institute promotes a vision of delivering health care that is based on the evidence, balanced in its approach, and focused on the patient. More
‘Medication Fog’: What It Is and How It Can Cause Dementia-Like Symptoms
Medications can cause this fog or even worsen dementia, so it’s important to be proactive about understanding your prescribed drugs — especially since more than 4 in 10 older adults take 5 or more prescription medications a day, according to a report from the nonprofit Lown Institute in Brookline, Massachusetts. More
Interoperability rule exposes gaps in protecting privacy
Patients will gain greater control of their data, but largely by using third-party apps that aren't regulated by HIPAA. More
The coronavirus pandemic reveals America’s skewed health care priorities
Why our market-driven health care system is failing against a new, fast-moving virus. More
Coronavirus will also cause a loneliness epidemic
We need to take both social distancing and the “social recession” it will cause seriously. More
Covid-19 will be the ultimate stress test for electronic health record systems
Electronic health record systems aren't ready for Covid-19. But because the weaknesses are well-known, health systems can plan for them and around them. More
When surgery becomes ‘women’s work’: the devaluation of gynecologic specialties
As women began entering medical schools in larger numbers during the 1970s, some specialties were welcoming to women, others weren’t. More
The Startling Inequality Gap That Emerges After Age 65
Seniors in urban areas and on the coasts are surviving longer than their counterparts in rural areas and the nation’s interior, according to an analysis from Samuel Preston of the University of Pennsylvania, one of the nation’s leading demographers. More
Omega-3s Show No Overall Benefits for Heart Health or Cancer Prevention
Two analyses found no overall harms or benefits from taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements. More
VCU Health Halts 30-Year Campaign That Seized Patients’ Wages, Put Liens On Homes
In one of the most sweeping moves yet by a nonprofit hospital system to reduce aggressive bill collection, VCU Health is halting seizure of patients’ wages and removing thousands of liens against patients’ homes, some dating to the 1990s. More
Winners and losers of the HHS interoperability final rule
HHS released its much-anticipated final rules on EHR interoperability, ruling against 'information blocking' tactics by EHR vendors and giving patients more control over their medical records. More
North Carolina demands answers from HCA after Mission Health complaints
North Carolina's attorney general has received 30 written complaints from residents about the cost and quality of care at Mission Health facilities following their purchase by for-profit HCA Healthcare. More
Heart Association Puts Halt To Bayer’s Giant Displays Of Baby Aspirin
The American Heart Association says that although aspirin can help people with previous heart attacks or strokes, its risks generally outweigh the benefits for others. More
No evidence for common bladder pain treatments, patient advocates find
Doctors are increasingly recognizing that bladder pain and urgency is often a symptom of a larger problem with many potential causes. But has this recognition translated into change of practice? More
New Federal Rules Will Let Patients Put Medical Records On Smartphones
Patients would have far more control over their health care with complete medical histories stored on their phones, proponents say. More
Can you sue an algorithm for malpractice? It depends
The rapid entry of artificial intelligence is stretching the boundaries of medicine. It will also test the limits of the law. More
Media coverage of screening guideline changes: A case study
Just in time for colorectal cancer screening month, a new analysis shows how the media portrayed a controversial screening guideline change. More
The endurance of medication overload: Rethinking the medication review process
Medications can be very useful tools for clinicians to help treat, prevent, and even cure illness, but they can also cause harm, especially when used inappropriately. In a recent report, “Medication Overload: America's Other Drug Problem,” the Lown Institute found that polypharmacy among Americans aged 65 years and older has increased substantially over the past few decades, and with it the rate of adverse drug events More